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Celebrating FIU’s Leading Researchers

Celebrating FIU’s Leading Researchers

January 17, 2025 at 11:00am


FIU researchers are innovators moving our R1 public research university ever-forward. These pages contain a sampling of their recent accolades:

Melissa Baralt

Associate professor of linguistics and Spanish, received the International Association of Task-Based Language Teaching Best Practitioner Award.

Stephen Black

Director of the Center for Translational Science, has been appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to the state’s Biomedical Research Advisory Council.

Asa Bluck

Assistant professor of physics, was inducted as a member of Sigma Xi, the scientific research honor society of science and engineering.

Charlie Buscemi

Clinical professor of graduate nursing, was a member of the inaugural class of fellows of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society.

Alessandro Catenazzi

Associate professor and conservation biologist, was named Half-Earth chair by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation.

Kevin Chandler

assistant professor of translational medicine, was named a 2024 Rising Star in Proteomics and Metabolomics by the Journal of Proteome Research.

Rajiv Chowdhury

Chair and professor of global health, received the Faculty Leader in Global Health Innovation Award by the Velji Family Foundation and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health.

Sundararaj Iyengar

Ryder professor of computer science, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Interpol Digital Forensics Expert Group Meeting in 2023. He also received an honorary doctorate of science from Poznan University of Technology in Poland.

Krish Jayachandran and Assefa Melesse

Distinguished university professor in earth and environment, and Assefa Melesse, professor in the Institute of Environment, were named Jefferson Science Fellows, joining a select group of scientists building capacity for science, technology and engineering expertise within the U.S. Department of State and U.S. AID.

Jeremy Kiszka

Associate professor of biological sciences, was elected president of the Society for Marine Mammalogy.

Jacek Kolasinski and Roberto Rovira

Associate professor of visual arts, and Roberto Rovira, professor of landscape architecture, earned Place Art honorable mention awards from the Environmental Design Research Association and presented their research at the association’s 2023 conference.

Angela Laird

Professor of physics, became a 2024 fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Celine Leboeuf

Associate professor of philosophy, received the American Philosophical Association’s Best Op-Ed award in 2024.

Judith Mansilla

Associate teaching professor of history, became a fellow of the American Council for Learned Societies in 2024.

Angela Medina

Associate professor in the department of communication sciences & disorders, was named Clinician of the Year by the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

Nadine Mikati

Clinical assistant professor of dietetics and nutrition, was selected as the Early Career Nutrition representative on the American Society for Nutrition Board of Directors.

Marilys Nepomechie

Distinguished university professor of architecture, was elected national chancellor of the College of Distinguished Professors of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture.

Ebru Ozer

Professor of landscape architecture, was elevated to the national Council of Fellows of the American Society of Landscape Architecture in recognition of her service to the profession.

Jennifer Printz and Tom Scicluna

Associate and assistant professor, respectively, in art + art history, won Oolite Arts Ellies Creator Awards in 2023.

Jorge Riera Diaz

Associate professor in biomedical engineering, was inducted into the 2024 Class of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering College of Fellows.

Eugenio M. Rothe

Professor in psychiatry and behavioral health, became president of the American Academy of Psychodynamic Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis.

Sabrina Sales Martinez

Assistant professor of dietetics and nutrition, was appointed to the American Society of Nutrition Foundation Board of Trustees for 2023-2025.

Sigal Segev

Associate professor of advertising and public relations, was elected president of the American Academy of Advertising.

Elisa Silva

Associate professor of architecture, received a 2023 Afield Fellowship.

Maria Stevens

Assistant dean for academic community programs and partnerships in the medical school, was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in recognition of her commitment to compassionate care.

Berrin Tansel

Professor of civil and environmental engineering, was awarded the 2024 Frederick George Pohland Medal from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists.

Jorge Valdez and Ann Miller

Dean of the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, became a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Additionally, Valdes and Ann Miller, clinical associate professor in the department of nurse anesthesiology, were inducted as fellows of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.

Tracey Weiler

Associate professor of human and molecular genetics, received the inaugural “Bright Light Award” from the Council of Faculty and Academic Societies.